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Gateway Review Process

Description

The Northern Ireland (NI) Gateway Review process (illustrated below), is a five step independent ‘peer’ review undertaken at key stages in the lifecycle of a Project (Gates 1-5):

  • Gate 1 – Business Justification;
  • Gate 2 – Delivery Strategy;
  • Gate 3 – Investment Decision;
  • Gate 4 – Readiness for Service; and
  • Gate 5 – Benefits Realisation.

Diagram illustrating the various stages in the NI Gateway Review Process and what each review point addresses. If this is inaccessible or you require an alternative format, please contact us at coe@dfpni.gov.uk

For Programmes an extra step called Gate 0 takes place at the start and should be repeated (middle and end at least) throughout the Programme. The NI process is based on the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Gateway Review process and was introduced in December 2003. The Gateway Review Process is initiated by the completion of a Risk Potential Assessment (RPA), which provides a high-level assessment of the potential programme or project risk.  (Note: the RPA process is currently under review by OGC). All medium and high risk projects must undertake a formal review. For lower risk projects an internal peer review is recommended.

After completion of an RPA, a Gateway Review is organised through the NI Gateway Coordinator (part of the Central Procurement Directorate's Centre of Excellence (CPD/CoE) for Delivery and now an OGC Gateway Authorised Hub), in response to an invitation from the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). This key relationship governs the conduct of the subsequent review. The review typically lasts 3 days, is evidence based, and involves interviews with key stakeholders culminating in a report, delivered to the SRO on the final day of the review. The main output from a Gateway Review is the report, confidential to the SRO, containing recommendations based on the review team’s findings. In the light of the recommendations the Programme/Project is a Delivery Confidence rating which indicates the potential for successful delivery.

For more information please follow the links provided.